28 May is celebrated as ‘World Menstrual Hygiene Day’. Yesterday that was 28 may the internet was flooded with stories of Period and the struggles associated with it. The major section was busy talking about the hardships faced by the menstruating sect and raising awareness about the same. On the other hand,a minute but influential section of ‘intellectuals’ left no stone unturned in propagating a not-so-new narrative of ‘Period Leave’. While advocating for paid/unpaid period leave it was pushed that this is a basic right of menstruating women. But is their approach unbiased, or is it ridden by some woke agenda which in turn is fuelling misinformation in the society.
Period Leave: A new trend
Menstruation has been a taboo in the post-modern world and it should be discussed in a hush-hush tone. The things that have been kept a ‘secret’ have costed women the most. But often when a ‘secret’ comes out in public, the urge to bring it in public discourse and do out with the stigma forces some unnecessary long-term negative implications on the female section of the society, and period leave is one of them.
The new issue in the arena of gender equality is period leave and many countries as well as big corporates have fallen for the gender equality demand. Spain has already become the first European country to introduce paid ‘menstrual leave’. Countries like Japan, South Korea already have provision of paid menstrual leaves. Food delivery company Zomato also grants period leave to their female employees.
The debate around period leave and medical reasons behind it
One may want to delve into the underlying medical reasons those propagate the concept of leave every month. Menstruation is not an easy process as it brings a bag full of menstrual symptoms, that can be too hard to handle.
Studies suggest that 30-40 per cent of the menstruating population suffers from period pain, cramps every month. Period is different for different women, for some it can bring severe unbearable cramps, some might experience extensive mood swings, some feel lethargic. For some period is a normal experience while for some it’s disastrous to an extent that it can make the women bed ridden for almost a week.
Citing the aforementioned reasons, the period activists have often demanded ‘relief’ and have advocated that citing leave, working less during the cycle does not make a woman less capable. However, when we live in a society it is important to function in accordance to it. And the argument that period leave fosters inclusivity by accepting and acknowledging the biological differences between the two genders, needs to be analysed beyond the perspective of gender equality.
How the concept of Period leave will backfire in the long run?
The ‘Feminists’ might have made you believe by now that the most gender-neutral idea of the current century is ‘period leave’. Yes, they come up with ‘logics’ you will find tough not to believe like “period leave is a right,” “period leave will promote gender equality.” But actually the concept of leave for 2-5 days of every month will prove to be disastrous for the ambitious women who are trying to make space for themselves in the ever-increasing competitive world.
The speed at which the concept of Period leave is being propagated, will prove to be dangerous for the menstruating population only. The women who are being naïve and are celebrating the 2-3 day menstrual leave, will see the ill-effects of it in the years to come. The companies that are coming forwards and are granting leaves to women in the name of menstruation, will be the one which will outcast women from the working space citing that the female population asks for additional leaves other than their male counterparts and the work of the company gets affected.
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The viable alternative of hyped ‘Period Leave’
Period Leave may appear to be a fantastic feminist idea at the first sight, but it will unfold an unthinkable disaster. Demanding period leave and granting it, will directly impact the hiring of women, and their promotion, and their lies an apt reason for it. No company would ever promote or hire any employee who would want one month of leave every year other than sick leaves and casual leaves.
Hence, keeping the difficulties that period brings along, there is a need of a viable alternative for period leave. And the alternative is a friendly environment at workplace. Women suffering from period cramps should have the privilege of work from home, or a half-day, or some relaxed hours according to the needs of the company. The companies should also progress towards designating a rest room to women in pain. Also, improvement in sanitation and ending period poverty can prove to be helpful for the females stepping out to work.
The only way forward should be working on the alternatives of period leave and not some leave representing that amounts to mere tokenism
